Q^^ ON THE PRUSSIC AND PRUS30U3 ACIDS. 



turned red with that solution changed to a deep blood-red colour, withool 



oxisulphata of niecinitatc ensuing, instead of forming with it a preci- 



iron, without J i \ ^ o it 



precipitation, pitate of blue prussiate of iron, bo nnexuected a pheno- 

 menon determined me to undertake an examination of this 

 liquid; with this view I subjected it to the action of the 

 chemical agents mentioned in the following table. 



TABLE I. with Liquid A. 



Action of dif- 

 ferent tests on 

 this solution. 



CHEMICAL AGENTS. 



Paper stained with turmeric 

 Paper stained with litmus 



Potash 



Lime - - - 



Diluted sulphuric acid 



Nitric acid (pure) 

 Oximiiriatic acid 

 Muriatic acid (pure) 

 Muriate of barytes 

 lincture of galls 



Nitro- muriate of platiua 

 Muriate of gold 



Nitrate of silver 



Sulphate of silver 



Oxiiiitrate of mt-rcury 

 Oxi nitrate of lead 

 Supersulphate of copper 

 Muriate of bismuth 

 Sulphate of iron 



Oxisulphale of iron 



No change of colour. 



Do. 

 J No disengagement of ammonia, or 

 t any apparent change. 



Do. 

 r An expulsion of sulphurous acid, the 



< liquid becomes slightly opales- 

 ( cent. 



C The acid assumes a red colour, but 

 I this effect is not permanent. 



This acid loses its smell. 



No change. 



A white precipitate. 



No change. 

 f A heavy, brilliant, ochre-yellow pre- 

 C ci pitate. 



Dark olive brown precipitate. 

 r A precipitate at lirst white, but 



< quickly passing to yellow, red, and 

 L lastly to brown. 



^ A dull white or stone coloured preci- 

 l pitate. 



A white precipitate. 



A white precipitate. 



A dull white precipitate. 



No precipitate. 



No change. 

 5 The solution assumes a deep blood- 

 i red colour. No precipitate. 



Thcliquid Thc effects of the sulphuric acid and of the muriate of 



*hite'of '^)otash ^Jarytes clearly proved the existcnco of sulphite of potash 

 and sonic other in the liquid ; while that of the oxisulphate of iron indi- 

 pnaciple. cated the presence of some otlier principle, to which thc 



liquid was indebted for its peculiar characters. Thc sepa- 

 ration of this principle in a pure state became therefore a 

 necessary preliminary operation to its examination; after a 

 few trials, I succeeded in eficcting this separation. The 

 following is the process I employed. 



The 



